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Tiepolo - Appearance of the Virgin to St. Philip Neri

Appearance of the Virgin to Saint Philip Neri
Gian Battista Tiepolo

Museo Diocesano, Camerino

This masterpiece, painted in 1739-40, is among the finest works by Venice's greatest painter of the period. The aged St Philip Neri has been caught by surprise and drops his Bible to look up in wonder at the apparition. The Madonna appears over him seated on a cloud supported by angels, one of whom holds the holy weight from below, partially hiding the altar, while another with outstretched wings steadies it from above. Luminous light helps to emphasise the spontaneity of the miraculous event.

It was originally painted for the nearby Baroque church of San Filippo where it formed the centrepiece of a side chapel decorated with bas relief scenes from the life of the saint.